NBA: Sixers seek to extend latest upswing against visiting Heat

The Philadelphia 76ers have been on a roller-coaster ride over the past month, but momentum is swinging back in their favor heading into Thursday's home game against the Miami Heat.

Philadelphia kicked off a five-game winning streak on Jan. 27, only to stumble by losing five of six games immediately afterward. The pendulum shifted again with a 27-point road win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, followed by a 135-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

"I still think we're shaking off some All-Star pre- and post- stuff," said Sixers coach Nick Nurse. "I think we've had enough games to do that now, so I'm glad we notched two good wins on the road."

In the win over Indiana, Tyrese Maxey led the way with 32 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Joel Embiid returned after missing five games due to a leg and shin injury, contributing 27 points in just 26 minutes.

"He had a good opportunity to get out there and get some minutes under his belt," Nurse said. "Obviously, it’s good to see the rhythm and touch offensively."

While Embiid has been in and out of the lineup, Maxey has assumed a larger offensive role. He has scored a combined 71 points in the last two victories and is averaging a career-high 29.1 points this season.

"They got really good players off the dribble," said Heat guard Davion Mitchell. "Tyrese Maxey is playing at a superstar level right now. We have to find ways to swarm him, put two people on him. He can’t get any easy looks because that can get him going."

Miami also boasts dynamic guards in Norman Powell, who averages 22.9 points, and Tyler Herro, at 20.9 points. Powell scored 26 points in Tuesday’s 128-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, while Herro struggled, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

The difference in the game was 3-point shooting. The Heat made just 33% from deep, while the Bucks hit the same number of three-pointers (16) despite nine fewer attempts. Overall, Miami allowed Milwaukee to shoot nearly 50% from the field despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence.

"Defensively, it just wasn’t a great game," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "It required a whole lot more."

Miami, which had won its previous three games, sits eighth in the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia is sixth as the playoffs approach.

"That pressure is a privilege," said Spoelstra. "I want our locker room to feel that pressure. We need to push our game to a higher level."

This Thursday marks the second of three meetings between the teams this season. In their first matchup on Nov. 23, Miami defeated Philadelphia 127-117 on the road, with Powell scoring 32 points and Kel’el Ware adding 20 points and 16 rebounds. Maxey had 27 points for the Sixers, who played without Embiid. Philadelphia has now lost five straight meetings with the Heat.

—Field Level Media/Reuters